Spain's Colonial Legacy in the Americas

The Spanish Empire created a vast colonial empire in the Americas, beginning with Christopher Columbus's arrival in 1492. Over the next three centuries, Spain established colonies throughout the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and the southwestern United States. These colonies were a major source of wealth, providing gold, silver, tobacco, sugar, and other agricultural products. Spain also introduced Catholicism and European culture, profoundly shaping the region's development.